`Everytime I have on that Guyana T-shirt I feel proud, it’s the proudest moment for any player’
One of three national rugby players suspended by the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU), Kevin McKenzie says even if his suspension is not overturned he will continue playing for Guyana. Mc Kenzie made the disclosure at a press briefing on Thursday.
The United Kingdom-based player, who is at present in Guyana addressing the suspension issue, described his one-year ban as “unjust” and called for it to be overturned.
“I’m hoping it gets overturned and they overlook this and hear what I have to say, because I don’t think they listened to us, I don’t think they listened to the players, I don’t think the players have a voice or they can voice their opinion,” said McKenzie.
McKenzie wants the matter to be reviewed by the disciplinary committee instead of the executive committee, which he said tried the case and delivered a harsh and unjust verdict.
“I think if it was a fair judgment I would’ve taken my ban and chill out, because I know that I did something wrong or I know that it was worth it and it was fair and not unjust,” said McKenzie.
He added: “If they ban me and they move on then that’s what they do, in life stuff happens, there’s nothing that I’m going to regret, because in life if nothing don’t break you cant fix it, but it’s how you fix it and how you deal with the matter… we’re all human beings at the end of the day.”
However, on a patriotic note he emphasized that he is a proud Guyanese and will continue to represent Guyana.
“I’ve been in this team since I was 17. I know about travelling with the Guyana team and though I play rugby in England and Ireland, I’m Guyanese, born Guyanese as well.
“I worked my way hard, nothing was given to me in rugby and it’s ridiculous for someone, now, after I worked so hard playing with the Guyana team, wants to take this away and ban me for 12 months.
“Every time I have on that Guyana T-shirt, man I feel proud, it’s the proudest moment for any player, especially me, it’s the best feeling ever… anyone who plays sport knows it’s an honour to represent their country at the top level,” said McKenzie.
“In the future I would always love to put on that Guyana shirt with the Guyana flag on the badge. I would do that any day, I would give up anything for that and whether it’s overturned or whether it’s not, I’m a proud Guyanese and I’ll represent Guyana no matter where I go to live or where I go to play rugby. “Once I get an invite to represent Guyana I would come back, I would even ask for an invite,” McKenzie added.
McKenzie along with two other players, Dwayne Schroeder and Albert La Rose were banned from November 7 from participating in all local and international tournaments under the GRFU and representing Guyana in any form of rugby during the period of their suspension.
According to the GRFU, they brought the players before a disciplinary committee appointed by the GRFU for misconduct following their participation at this year’s Commonwealth Games in India. The GRFU subsequently found the players guilty of what they described as “gross misconduct which brought the country, the game of rugby and the team into disrepute.”
